Sooner or later, the Sixers need to decide to start winning. Otherwise, incoming rookies will avoid them like the plague. Or, like Kristaps Porzingis reportedly did.
Kristaps Porzingis went fourth overall to the Knicks, but the Sixers were interested in the big man at number 3. But the problem is that the team never met with him beforehand and it was evident that he didn’t want to go to Philly. This trend may continue for the Sixers unless they can figure something out soon.
(Porzingis’ agent Andy) Miller didn’t make it easy for Philadelphia to draft Porzingis at No. 3. The Sixers wouldn’t be afforded Porzingis’ physical, nor get a private workout, nor even a face-to-face meeting. After most of the pro day executives cleared out of the gym in Vegas in mid-June, 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie lingered to meet with Miller. Hinkie stopped him in the lobby area and asked Miller about a chance to sit down and visit with Porzingis.
“You said that I would get a meeting with him here,” Hinkie told Miller.
“I said, ‘I’d try,’ and it’s not going to work out, Sam,” Miller responded.
An awkward silence lingered, the GM and agent, standing and staring. The Porzingis camp wanted no part of the Sixers’ situation at No 3. Miller couldn’t stop Philadelphia from drafting Porzingis, but he could limit the information they had to make a decision. And did. No physical. No meeting. No workout. The Sixers passed on Porzingis on draft night, clearing the way for the Knicks to select him.
H/T: Yahoo!
